Tag Archives: volcanic

Pyramid of the Sun

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The largest pyramid in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world, the imposing Pyramid of the Sun towers 66 meters tall, a monumental site that dwarfs even the Pyramid of the Moon. Built around 100 CE from red volcanic rock, when Teotihuacan was reaching its zenith, the base measures 220 by 230 meters.

On the pyramid’s west side, there are 248 steps leading to the top of the structure, although visitors can no longer climb it. It is thought that there was once a temple at the summit – the Aztecs later used it for rituals and sacrifices.

Pyramid of the Sun

What is Pyramid of the Sun

Yellowstone – Steam Rising

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The landscape at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is populated by areas with volcanic activity causing flowing water to boil and create steam.

Heat and volcanic gases from slowly cooling magma rise and warm the dense salty water that occupies fractured rocks above the Yellowstone magma chamber. That brine, in turn, transfers its heat to overlying fresh groundwater which is recharged by rainfall and snowmelt from the surface.

A Steaming Stream
Steaming Down the Rocks
Steam Rising

Yellowstone Landscape

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Yellowstone National Park is a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. Mostly in Wyoming, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It’s also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope. 

As we were visiting in Fall, the landscape in Yellowstone was drier but the vistas were still beautiful.

Yellowstone Landscape
Yellowstone Drying Landscape

Arizona – Petrified Forest Patterns

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Arizona- Petrified Forest Patterns

Arizona- Petrified Forest Patterns

More than 200 million years ago, flourishing trees and vegetation covered much of this area of Northeastern Arizona. But volcanic lava destroyed the forest, and the remains were embedded into sediment comprised of volcanic ash and water.